Hydraulic ram.



N0.s45,402.. I I PATENTED FE'B.26,1907.

. A. H. FRANGFORT.

HYDRAULIC. RAM.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 17, 1905.

'rnzwokms PEI'ERS co., wnsmucnm, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED H. FRANOFORT, OF iERsEr Oirr, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO NIAGARA HYDRAULIC ENGINE COMPANY, A OORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

HYDRAULIC RAM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 26, 1907.

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED H. FRANC- FORT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and. State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic Rams, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to hydraulic rams.

The main purpose of the invention is to improve the main valve or gate of the ram so that it will work efficiently under all conditions and with a minimum shock or jar of impact.

A further Object of the invention is to devise a form of valve for hydraulic rams in which the moving part shall be of very light and strong construction and in which the seat shall be sufliciently heavy to withstand the movements of the valve thereagainst.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a valve which shall operate in a very quick and abrupt way so as to check the col umn of fluid in the ram with a maximum degree of suddenness.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the construction, combination, location, and arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a hydraulic ram embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of the valve.

As a general principle it may be stated that the pressure obtainable from a hydraulic ram is roughly proportional to the suddenness with which the fluid column is checked therein. Inasmuch as the closing valve or gate is itself closed by the fluid-pressure, the suddenness with which it closes can be increased by enlarging the area acted upon by such fluid pressure and diminishing the weight so that the inertia of the parts to be moved is lessened. In carrying out my invention I adopt both of these features, and I further secure the additional advantage that by a less weight of the valve and moving parts I greatly reduce the shock of impact of the valve against its seat. In the usual forms of valves for hydraulic rams the shape of the valve renders it structurally weak, and

' I it has been customary to make it larger and more massive in order to secure greater strength; but the increased size is accompanied by a corresponding increase in weight and inertia, so that the valves hitherto used have been sluggish in action and destructive to both valve and seat by virtue of such great inertia. In my present invention I increase the strength of the valve, not by making it more heavy, but by modifying its form into one which is capable of withstanding large strains.

A feature of my invention insures a perfect closure of the valve in spite of sand or other articles in the water or fluid acted upon. For this purpose I provide a yielding washer or ring, which the valve engages in closing.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 indicates the casing, having a main central chamber 2 and an inlet-pipe connection 3, through which the fluid is admitted from the drivepipe.

4 indicate supporting-legs, which may be integral with the casing 1, so as to firmly hold the latter in an upright or any desired position.

Communicating with the central chamber 2 is the main valve or gate (broadly designated as 5) and an equalizing-chamber 6, which has any number of check-valves 7 to preclude the escape of liquid impelled therein.

8 indicates the usual air-valve which is employed in this class of apparatus to supply a small quantity of air to the fluid so as to compensate for that absorbed by the water in the equalizing-chamber 6.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawings, I have indicated in detail the construction of the main valve or gate 5. The casing 1 has a flange 9, with bolt-holes 10 annularly spaced around the same. 11 denotes an additional flange or collar, having bolt-holes 12, similar to the bolt-holes 10 above mentioned and which can be placed in alinement therewith. The collar 11 has an internal neck portion 13, the construction of which will later be more particularly described. Extending through the alined boltholes 10 and 12 and projecting upward therefrom are a plurality of bolts or studs 14, which have shoulders 14 and threaded ends 14 upon which are screwed the nuts 15, so as to firmly clamp the collar 11 to the flange 9 and mentioned, which constitutes a 45 Q seaaoz maintain the studs 14 in rigid relation. 16 if desired, they may be in the form of recesses indicates a cap which forms the main valveseat and which is firmly held in position by nuts 17. The nuts 17 are screwed onto the threaded extremities 14 of the studs 14, which are passed through alined holes in the cap 16 for this purpose. In this way the cap 16 is rigidly held above and parallel to the neck 13, above referred to. While I consider this method of supporting the cap 16 as a practical and desirable one, I do not desire to be limited or restricted thereto, since other ways of supporting the cap are equally applicable. I will now describe the features of the valve element and the manner in which it is actuated to secure a very sudden closure and a very abrupt cutting off of the liquid fluid. 20 designates the valve element, which I have shown in the form of a tubular shell 21 with integral flanged edges 22 23. The flange 22 is conveniently disposed in a plane normal to the tubular shell 21, while the flange 23 has been shown as having a special form cooperating with the valve-seat, as will be hereinafter stated. 24 indicates a spider, which may be formed of arms integral with the shell 21 and projecting from a central hub 25. The hub 25 has a central hole therein, through which passes a guiding-stem 26, axially projecting from the cap 16. 27 denotes a head at the lower end of the stem 26, by which the downward movement of the valve is limited, and 28 indicate adjustingnuts upon the stem by which its effective length below the cap is varied so as to regulate the stroke of the valve to any desired degree. The flange 22, previously described, is of a diameter to clear the walls of the chamber 2 by a small space Sllfl'lClGIll] to permit a slight flow of water therethrough under cer tain conditions, and at the limit of upward movement of the valve the flange 22 comes into engagement with the neck 13, above suppremental valve-seat. 29 denotes a packingwasher or gasket which may be imposed between the parts so as to insure against grains of sand in the fluid from preventing proper closureof the valve. The yielding character .of the material used permits it to give slightly and allow room for any foreign particles which may be caught between the valve and seat in closing. In practice I make the opening of the neck 13 of such a diameter as to just clear the outer wall of the shell 21, although this is not essential. 30 indicate a plurality of holes or openings spaced around the neck 13 and located above the flange 22. I regard these holes or openings or some equivalent thereof as an important feature of the invention, since by their use I secure a vmuch more rapid and effective checking of the liquid current than would otherwise be possible. The size, shape, and number of such openings is immaterial, and,

or notches on the inside edge of the neck member suflicient to permit a proper flow of liquid therethrough. The cap 16 has its lower face or surface 31 shown as formed in a special way, so as to deflect the stream of fluid which moves thereagainst tangentially and outward, so as it will escape freely. In other words, the liquid current has a passage of substantially uniform section and without any sharp turns or curves therein to traverse in its flow through the valve, which is a common and serious defect of valves now in use. For this purpose I make such surface of a generally conical form, the cone elements being slightly curved, however, so as to give a flaring rather than a true cone outline. It may. however, be otherwise shaped. The axis of the cone corresponds to the axis of the valve member 20, so that the latter is capable of seating against an annular Zone or ring upon the conical surface, and in order to make a proper seating engagement I form the flange 23, above mentioned, of a conical or flaring outline, so that it will accurately engage and register with the opposed cone surfaces of the valve-seat. The particular conical shape of the surface 31 of the cap 16 and of the corresponding surface of the valve member 20 presents certain advantages, but is not essential to the effective operation of the device. 32 indicates an annular packingring or gasket inset into a recess in the conical face 31, which serves to cushion the impact of the valve and also insure eflicient closure in the same way as the washer 29 above described. 34 indicate a plurality of holes or openings which are spaced annularly around the valve-seat 32 and extend outward through the cap.

The operation is as follows: The valve member 20 normally lies at its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 2, with the hub 25 resting upon the head 27 and a free opening or space between the valve-face 33 and its seat 32. Under these circumstances the liquid from the drive-pipe passes into the chamber 2 and freely outward through the valve, where it overflows and escapes. As the fluid continues to escape its velocity becomes greater and eventually the combined pressure against the flange 22 and the friction through the valve 20 is sufficient to raise the valve, which thereupon moves toward its seat. As the valve moves upward all the liquid above the flange 22 is free to escape through the holes 30, and the valve being of very light construction rapidly closes with great suddenness. As the valve-face 33 approaches its seat the liquid between the opposed surfaces is free to escape through the passages 34, so that at no time in its stroke is the movement of the valve impeded. By reason of the space between the flange 22 and its wall the liquid is ICO free to pass therethrough until the final instant of closing movement. In practice as the valve approaches its seat the flow through the openings 30 becomes greater until the entire current is suddenly checked by the complete closure of the valve. In this action the resistance of the fluid behind the flange 22 is largely compensated by the pressure of the upward jets through the holes, which impinge against the flange 23 and assist the closing movement of the valve. It Will be seen that when the valve is opened the conical face 13 of the cap 16 deflects the liquid from its axial direction, so that it is free to flow away, but practically the entire surface friction of the moving liquid is effective to exert a closing pressure upon the valve member. The latter is thereby impelled with considerable force, and in view of its light construction it acquires a very rapid movement. The impact strains are in the direction of greatest strength in the valve membernamely, along the elements of its cylindrical walls-and the flanges 22 and 28, in addition to their functions previously stated, serve as strengthening-ribs and fur ther insure against breakage of the valve.

It will be observed that the hydraulic pressure at the moment of the closing impact isborne by the interior cylindrical walls of the valve and the bottom face of the valve seat, and this pressure is therefore applied in a manner best adapted to receive it-namely, in the direction of greatest strength of the valve memberalong the arch of its cylindrical outline. A valve-seat can be made as strong and heavy as is necessary, since this part has no movement and it is amply able to resist any hydraulic pressure which is brought against it in the checking action.

What I claim is 1. In a hydraulic ram, a gate or valve having a main valve-seat, a neck portion constituting a supplemental valve-seat, and a hollow valve member movable within said neck portion and provided with a flange adapted to engage said neck portion when the valve is closed.

2. In a hydraulic ram, a gate or valve having a main valve-seat, a neck portion constituting a supplemental valve-seat, and a hollow valve member movable within said neck portion, the upper end of said valve member cooperating with the main valve-seat and the lower end thereof provided with a flange cooperating with'the supplemental valve-seat.

3. In a hydraulic ram, a casing having a chamber with an opening therein, a valveseat opposite said opening, a hollow valve, provided with a flange, controlling the passage through' said Opening and vertically movable therein, means for guiding said valve, and a supplemental valve-seat with which the flange on said valve cooperates.

4. In a hydraulic ram, a valve or gate having a main valve-seat, a neck portion constituting a supplemental valve-seat, and a hollow valve member movable within said neck portion and provided with a flange adapted to engage the under side of said neck portion when the valve is closed, a passage being provided for the escape of the water above said flange when the valve member is moved to its closing position.

5. In a hydraulic ram, a valve or gate having a valve-seat with a conical face, a valve member comprising a flanged cylindrical shell cooperating therewith and a supplemental seat against which the flange on said shell closes.

6. In a hydraulic ram, a valve or gate having a neck portion constituting a valve-seat, a cylindrical shell having a flange engaging the under side of said neck portion, and a second valve-seat having a conical face engaging said shell.

7. In a hydraulic ram, a gate or valve having a neck portion, a cap supported there from and having. a valve-seat with a conical face, and a hollow valve member guided by said neck and movable against said seat, and provided with a flange adapted to engage the under side of said neck portion.

8. In a hydraulic ram, a gate or valve having a neck portion, a cap having a conical valve-seat supported therefrom, and a hollow valve having flanges engaging said neck portion and seat.

9. In a hydraulic ram, a valve or gate having a neck portion, studs projecting therefrom, a cap supported by said studs and having a conical valve-seat, and a valve comprising a flanged shell engaging said seat.

10. In a hydraulic ram, a valve or gate having a neck portion, a valve-seat supported axially thereto and having a conical face, and a flanged shell guided to move axially of said neck portion against said valveseat.

11. In a hydraulic ram, a valve or gate having a neck portion, a flanged shell guided axially thereof, and a valve-seat fixedly supported in alinement with said shell and axial thereof, the flange on said shell engaging said neck portion when the valve is closed.

12. In a hydraulic ram, a casing having a central chamber with an opening therein, a cap supported opposite said opening and having a stem projecting axially therein, and a valve comprising a cylindrical shell guided by said stem, and having a pair of flanges cooperating respectively with the walls of said casing, and said valve-seat.

13. In a hydraulic ram, a valve or gate having a neck portion, a valve-seat supported in alinement therewith, openings bein provided through said neck portion and sai valve-seat, and a valve comprising a shell having a pair of flanges adapted to engage said neck portion and valve-seat.

14. Ina hydraulic ram, a neck portion having studs radially projecting therefrom, a cap supported from said studs and having a engaged by saidflanges, and gaskets for valve-seat upon its under face, a valve memcushioning the impact between such parts. her comprising a shell having a pair of flanges In Witness whereof I subscribe my signaengaging said neck portion and seat, said ture in the presence of twowitnesses. neck portion and seat being provided With ALFRED H. FRANCFORT. openings for the escape of fluid imprisoned Witnesses: thereagainst. 1 ALFRED W. PROCTOR,

15. In a hydraulic ram, a hollow cylinl FRANK S. OBER.

drical valve having a'pairof flanges, surfaces to 

